German Masters 2023 snooker as it happened – Rob Milkins makes 147 to reach last four, Tom Ford ends Kyren Wilson hopes

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The first semi-final will be between Rob Milkins, the maximum man, against Ali Carter or Pang Junxu from 1pm GMT on Saturday with Tom Ford facing Jackpot or Xiao in the evening session from 7pm. First men to six frames in the semi-finals will reach the 13th German Masters final on Sunday. Should be a real super Saturday in Berlin. Join us for more live coverage.

Quarter-final latest

• Tom Ford 5-2 Kyren Wilson
• Jack Lisowski 4-3 Xiao Guodong
• Chris Wakelin 2-5 Robert Milkins
• Ali Carter 3-3 Pang Junxu

Ford 4-2 Wilson (99-0)

No century to end the night for Tom Ford, but a delightful 99 is the clincher. He will face Jack Lisowski or Xiao Guodong in the last four on Saturday night (7pm GMT).

Ford 4-2 Wilson (78-0)

This is quite brilliant from Ford. Was faced with a tough red on 57, but he just rolled it in like it was over the pocket. Should be done and dusted for Tom. Chance to finish with a century too. Kyren broke off and that was his final shot of match.

Ford 4-2 Wilson (19-0)

Glorious pot on a long red from Ford to get the party started. In goes the yellow followed by a superb plant on reds. What a chance here then for the Leicester cueman, who could move inside the top 16 if he wins this title on Sunday.

Quarter-final latest

• Tom Ford 4-2 Kyren Wilson
• Jack Lisowski 3-3 Xiao Guodong
• Chris Wakelin 2-5 Robert Milkins
• Ali Carter 2-3 Pang Junxu

Ford 4-1 Wilson (34-64)

34 from Ford in response as he chases Wilson down to the final four colours needing them all to force a re-spotted black. Just couldn’t get the brown out from side cushion and Wilson secures the frame with a magical pot on brown from distance to put frame to bed. Back to 4-2 behind. Still life in this one yet.

Ford 4-1 Wilson (10-56)

Wilson with 56 this time. A few fine recovery pots, but he butchers an attempt at a mid-range brown and chance passes to Ford, but he can’t hole a tough yellow. So no frame-winning thrust from Ford this time, but Wilson can’t can a red seconds later. Ford trying to settle himself down for what could be a key break.

Ford 4-1 Wilson (0-21)

Early chance for Kyren to get moving first in the sixth frame of the evening. Would dearly love to unearth a meaningful contribution. Has to play no-miss snooker from here on in.

The Milkman coasts through

Breaks of 147, 60, 65 and 86 from Rob Milkins in a memorable victory against Chris Wakelin, who enjoyed 66 and 116 off his own cue.

Quarter-final latest

• Tom Ford 4-1 Kyren Wilson
• Jack Lisowski 2-3 Xiao Guodong
• Chris Wakelin 2-5 Robert Milkins
• Ali Carter 2-2 Pang Junxu

Ford 3-1 Wilson (80-20)

Ford flukes the final red and this frame is finally over. A 4-1 lead for Tom Ford, who is on the cusp of the semi-finals. One more frame will do the job.

Ford 3-1 Wilson (72-20)

Wilson needing five snooker as he returns to the table. This frame surely soon to become a historical face. Wilson will need all four remaining frames otherwise he will soon be heading for the airport back to the UK.

Ford 3-1 Wilson (44-20)

Stunning long red from Wilson to break the impasse. Had no right to make that, but object ball fairly raced down the green pocket. What a fabulous effort. Now. What can he make here? And the answer is 20 as he missed a cutback on black only to see white hit a jaw and race down the yellow pocket. Looked so promising, but again Tom back at the table and could be back in business. Nothing difficult on the table as he chases a three-frame lead.

Ford 3-1 Wilson (30-0)

25 from Ford before he runs out of position. Seemed to get a big bounce off baulk cushion in potting brown. Kyren not punished for that earlier error.

Ford 3-1 Wilson (11-0)

Boys back on the baize. Kyren needing a big effort in the second half of this match. Another tempter for Tom, but can’t tuck home mid-range red across the table. Wilson hits side of blue attempting a swerve shot to pot red over right centre. Well then. Just not going for Wilson at the moment. Another simple opener for Ford.

Quarter-final latest

• Tom Ford 3-1 Kyren Wilson
• Jack Lisowski 2-2 Xiao Guodong
• Chris Wakelin 1-3 Robert Milkins
• Ali Carter 2-2 Pang Junxu

Ford 2-1 Wilson (72-51)

Can you believe this? Ford misses tough green with rest after slotting yellow. A 57 break, but not over the line. Kyren then misses brown off the spot. Ford returns to pot brown and blue before rolling pink down a side rail with the rest. Wilson’s night began so well with that 112, but he will be playing catch-up when they return. Ford in the box seat in Berlin.

Ford 2-1 Wilson (12-48)

A break of 48 from Wilson, but he then somehow ends up on a tricky red to middle and misses the cut. That is another obvious chance gone when he seemed certain to progress. Ford returns to table with all reds in the open. Is he going to launch a telling counter attack?

Ford 2-1 Wilson (0-43)

Kyren picking off the loose reds here and there. Doesn’t look like a pack that needs one huge split. Can do his work with little nudges here and there. Would dearly love to put this frame to bed at this visit. Supreme shot to crack open the reds via another red. Lands on blue and this is a golden chance for 2-2.

Ford 2-1 Wilson (0-13)

Ford can’t resist attempting a long red down table to yellow bag. Doesn’t find the potting angle and Kyren can respond with a convincing pot on a long red. 44 in last frame from the European Masters winner, but will be hoping to weigh in with a few more here.

Quarter-final latest

• Tom Ford 2-1 Kyren Wilson
• Jack Lisowski 2-1 Xiao Guodong
• Chris Wakelin 1-2 Robert Milkins
• Ali Carter 2-1 Pang Junxu

Ford 1-1 Wilson (71-56)

Brilliant escape by Wilson to hit the green and escape from the snooker, but Ford then rams home a thrilling double to centre pocket and this frame should be his now. In goes brown, blue and pink and that will be Tom Ford forging ahead. Kyren wondering what might have been after feathering green in potting pink. Well now. A 2-1 lead for Fordy.

Ford 1-1 Wilson (49-56)

Wilson wins the little tactical duel, but can’t take out the final green with rest down the cushion. That was tough, but even more so when you are attempting deep screw to get back for the brown ball.

Milkins enjoys maximum moment

Enjoy only the third 147 in the history of the German Masters as the Milkman delivers in fabulous style.

Ford 1-1 Wilson (49-46)

This frame has a bit more to run after Wilson misses cut on a blue to right middle. Ford can’t land ideally on final red so on we go with the tactical battle to settle the frame.

Ford 1-1 Wilson (35-46)

Potential disaster for Kyren! Pots pink to middle pocket, but nudges his wrist accidentally off green in baulk. A reprieve for the Fordster, who then misses a mid-range red by miles and almost flukes it. Kyren returns to table with chance to see his frame out. A frame he could easily have lost.

Ford 1-1 Wilson (0-44)

Quite fabulous piece of cueing from Wilson off a side cushion to power in black and land nicely on the next red to extend break. Clips in another decent red to green pocket to continue along his merry way. Some sublime snooker being executed out there as Wilson reaches 44 before missing a tricky red.

Ford 1-1 Wilson (0-15)

Well, Wilson first to the punch in the third frame. Ford attempted a long red, nothing doing and leaves Kyren red along the baulk cushion to get started.

Quarter-final latest

• Tom Ford 1-1 Kyren Wilson
• Jack Lisowski 2-0 Xiao Guodong
• Chris Wakelin 1-1 Robert Milkins
• Ali Carter 0-1 Pang Junxu

Ford 0-1 Wilson (91-0)

No century, but a knock of 87 will do the job every day of the week. Both men cueing well and scoring well. Interesting to see where we go from here. Two more frames before the mid-session break.

Ford 0-1 Wilson (81-0)

Anything you can do, I can do better. Every chance Tom Ford is going to restore parity at 1-1 with a century of his own. Gladiatorial stuff out there.

Ford 0-1 Wilson (40-0)

Lovely shot by Ford with rest. Plenty of right hand side on white and nudges it off top cush to land on black. Far from easy this table, but Ford attempting to navigate his potting path around these balls. Meanwhile, Rob Milkins has just landed a 147 maximum break to huge roars around the arena. 1-1 with Chris Wakelin. All going on out there.

Quarter-final latest

• Tom Ford 0-1 Kyren Wilson
• Jack Lisowski 0-0 Xiao Guodong
• Chris Wakelin 1-0 Robert Milkins
• Ali Carter 0-1 Pang Junxu

Ford 0-0 Wilson (7-123)

This is brilliant from Kyren. Never looked like missing when the balls opened up. And is going to start his evening with a timely ton. A blistering break of 112 and that will be the first frame to the man dubbed ‘The Warrior’. Lies on table to attempt final black and is penalised for having no feet on floor, but his feet are firmly on the ground in his quest to reach the last four on Saturday.

Ford 0-0 Wilson (0-59)

This table in immaculate. Almost like an Augusta putting green and Kyren is in full control of his concentration as he ploughs through the balls with some relish. Looks very much like a quick kill in opening frame via that delicious plant on reds.

Ford 0-0 Wilson (0-26)

Superb plant on reds from distance by Kyren and suddenly he is right back at the business end of the table. What a lovely little shot that was to gain access to the baize.

Ford 0-0 Wilson (0-11)

Off we go then for this quarter-final on the main showpiece table. Ford 4-3 ahead on the head-to-heads, but the Leicester man misses a long red by a week and suddenly Wilson has chance to compile some points. An early gift. Wilson won the 2019 German Masters with a 9-7 win over David Gilbert and is aiming to double up here.

Ford 0-0 Wilson (0-0)

A full house inside this vast arena. 2,000 snooker diehards relishing some quality action at arguably the best snooker venue on the circuit.

Welcome back

Almost ready to go with the quarter-finals of the 13th German Masters in Berlin. Kyren Wilson and Tom Ford take to the main table this evening, but we’ll keep you posted on the other matches around the Tempodrom in the German capital with ‘Jackpot’ Jack Lisowski facing Xiao Guodong, Shoot Out winner Chris Wakelin meeting Robert Milkins and former German Masters winner Ali Carter confronting Pang Junxu. First man to five frames will reach the semi-finals on Saturday.

German Masters quarter-finals (best of nine frames)

• Tom Ford v Kyren Wilson
• Jack Lisowski v Xiao Guodong
• Chris Wakelin v Robert Milkins
• Ali Carter v Pang Junxu

THAT’S IT FOR THIS AFTERNOON

Join us again this evening when all four quarter finals will feature from 19.00 GMT. Don’t miss it!

RESULT! – ROBERTSON 4-5 WAKELIN

The Aussie cuts a long red to the bottom right corner and then nails the brown from baulk to the middle right.

It’s still looking like a tall order for the world No.5 but he sends the cue ball around the table to find a delightful cut on the black.

His run ends there and when Wakelin produces a fine snooker behind brown and yellow, Robertson comes up short with a foul.

Cue the handshake and shock win for the Shoot-out winner over the World No.5!

Milkins awaits in the last eight later tonight.

ROBERTSON 4-4 WAKELIN (0-67)

That’s some way to get yourself on the verge of the finish line. With a lead of 66 and 67 remaining, Wakelin lands short of where he wants to be in trying to pot a red at the foot of the pack to the middle right. He decides to take it on anyway and cuts a supreme pot, particularly in the circumstances, to earn huge cheers from the crowd.

He can’t do anymore from there but Robertson will need snookers to turn it around now.

ROBERTSON 4-4 WAKELIN (0-47)

There’s a real pressure moment right there.

Robertson lines up a red to the bottom right but sees it rattle between the jaws and fly out.

It leaves the path clear for Wakelin to add to his tally and potentially seal the deal at this visit.

ROBERTSON 4-4 WAKELIN (0-47)

Wakelin rifles another long red to the bottom right corner and this time he’s got a real sniff of a chance.

He rolls a blue to the middle right and then a red to the opposite pocket, which takes the cue ball nicely towards the black.

It’s a tense situation but he looks very calm out there as he goes about his business, until an attempt to split into the pack sees his break end just shy of the half century.

ROBERTSON 4-4 WAKELIN (0-1)

Wakelin is first to show as he thunders a long red to the bottom left pocket.

He settles for that and plays a safety behind the yellow up near baulk.

ROBERTSON 4-4 WAKELIN

What a response! Robertson takes charge with a much-needed cut on a long red that nestles nicely in the bottom right pocket.

It’s the platform for his best spell at the table for some time – and boy, did he need it.

The pots flow freely as he makes light of any pressure and takes us into a deciding frame with a stunning 133 clearance.

ROBERTSON 3-4 WAKELIN

Wakelin ends the stalemate with a red and yellow combination and manoeuvres his way down the table to play off the black.

He sinks a succession of tough pots to notch up 50 but then misses a pink to the middle right that would have pretty much sealed the frame.

Robertson returns to the table but it’s to no avail. Wakelin thunders down another excellent long pot and a couple of reds tight to the cushion as he lays down a statement with a clearance up to the black.

The Shoot-out champion is now one frame away from the last eight after trailing 3-1 earlier.

RESULTS FROM AROUND THE TABLES

• Luca Brecel 3-5 Robert Milkins
• Louis Heathcote 1-5 Ali Carter
• Ricky Walden 1-5 Pang Junxu

ROBERTSON 3-3 WAKELIN (11-17)

Déjà vu. Robertson finds himself tucked behind the brown at baulk once more! This time he pulls off the escape at the first attempt to avoid further damage on the scoreboard.

ROBERTSON 3-3 WAKELIN (11-17)

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try and try!

At the fifth time of asking Robertson comes off the left cushion to nudge a red close to the middle right pocket.

Wakelin did consider stepping in a couple of times but didn’t feel an easy pot was on.

ROBERTSON 3-3 WAKELIN (11-1)

Wakelin produces an excellent pot on a red but can’t do much else. Instead, he plays a lovely snooker off the yellow to tuck the cue ball behind the brown right up at baulk.

ROBERTSON 3-3 WAKELIN (11-0)

The world No.5 sneaks a red through the pack to the bottom left corner and then rolls the pink to the middle right.

He quickly runs out of position, however, despite a lovely cut on a red to the bottom left. A superb pot on the green with the cue ball tight to the cushion doesn’t really help and he has to bail out of the break at 11 with the reds scattered everywhere.

ROBERTSON 3-3 WAKELIN

All square! Wakelin is growing in confidence as this match wears on. He chalks up a break of 30 with one red remaining.

Robertson needs a snooker but has to get out of one himself with an ‘around the world’ shot to sneak from behind the pink.

Wakelin misses the final red tight on the bottom cushion and the Thunder from Down Under mops it up. He still needs a snooker but when he blows the black straight after, he decides he’s had enough and concedes the frame.

ROBERTSON 3-2 WAKELIN (20-28)

The Melbourne Machine is malfunctioning. His focus is wavering and he again comes up short with a break of 12 that hands his opponent the initiative.

ROBERTSON 3-2 WAKELIN (8-28)

‘That’s the pot of the match – but don’t land there!’

The Eurosport comms say it all when Wakelin unleashes a stunning long pot on a red to the bottom left corner – but then sees the cue ball sit snug against the side of the black.

He ends up playing a poor shot on the follow-up as a result and Robertson will dive in!

ROBERTSON 3-2 WAKELIN (8-27)

The world No.47 guides a tricky brown along the baulk cushion and into the green pocket to earn a flurry of applause.

His positioning on the red is spot-on and he follows with another fine cut on the brown to the green pocket once again.

He begins to make his way down the table to the pack of reds but doesn’t get the angle he wants on a red close to the bottom cushion. He opts for safety and retreats to baulk with a break of 26 under his belt.

ROBERTSON 3-2 WAKELIN (8-1)

The plot thickens! Robertson looks to have that potting mojo flowing rather nicely when he produces a brilliant plant on a red to the bottom left corner. However, he misses a more routine pink to the opposite corner seconds later and Wakelin strides gratefully to the table.

ROBERTSON 3-2 WAKELIN (0-1)

‘Oh Chris! – is the remark from the Eurosport comms as the Nuneaton-based player misses a very make-able yellow down to the middle right.

Robertson pretty much springs out of his chair and will be eager to take full advantage of a rather orthodox spread of balls.

AROUND THE TABLES

• Luca Brecel 1-4 Robert Milkins
• Louis Heathcote 1-5 Ali Carter – result
• Ricky Walden 0-4 Pang Junxu

ROBERTSON 3-2 WAKELIN

That’s more like it from Chris. He’s been doing a lot of observing since taking that opening frame, but he produces some steady potting here.

A pressure red to the middle left is calmly rolled into the pocket and he makes good use of the pink to move ahead on the board and snare his first half century.

A clinical red to the middle left pretty much makes sure of the frame and he goes on to clock up a morale-boosting 102 clearance.

ROBERTSON 3-1 WAKELIN (27-0)

The action resumes post-interval with an exchange of cagey safety play.

Wakelin goes for broke on a long red to the bottom left pocket as he tries to build some momentum, but it goes awry and Robertson’s eyes light up.

A red to the bottom right is followed by another pink to the middle left. The break develops nicely but a miscue on a cut on a red to the middle right pocket hands Wakelin a half chance.

AROUND THE TABLES

• Luca Brecel 1-3 Robert Milkins
• Louis Heathcote 1-3 Ali Carter
• Ricky Walden 0-2 Pang Junxu

ROBERTSON 3-1 WAKELIN

Robertson ends a very brief stalemate with a sublime long red to the yellow pocket. It’s a very tricky shot given its close proximity to the pack but the world No.5 guides it home beautifully.

Such a subtle shot is followed soon after by a show of raw power off his cue action to send the cue ball crashing into the pack off another solid pot.

Indeed, Robertson’s positional play seems set to put him on course for the frame, but some misfortune as he attempts to take down a black to the bottom left pocket, means he can’t take the shot on with the spider without some real discomfort caused by two nearby reds.

He opts for safety off the green in baulk and it pays real dividends as he’s right back in to add on a break of 15 that is enough for Wakelin to concede the frame.

Robertson has found some real form at times this afternoon and has now clinched three frames in a row heading into the interval.

ROBERTSON 2-1 WAKELIN (1-0)

Robertson chalks off an early red to the yellow pocket but gets an unfortunate ricochet off a red near the bottom part of the left cushion that means the black is not on. He tucks the cue ball in-behind it and is happy to leave it at that for now.

ROBERTSON 2-1 WAKELIN

Wakelin takes control when Robertson leaves a long red on following two fouls off a snooker.

The Warwickshire-based hopeful fails to successfully execute his attempt though and once more the Aussie is able to step in.

This time he makes it count and with the pressure off he produces some lovely, tight cuts to the bottom right before ending on a frame-clinching break of 28.

AROUND THE TABLES

• Luca Brecel 1-2 Robert Milkins
• Louis Heathcote 1-2 Ali Carter
• Ricky Walden 0-1 Pang Junxu

ROBERTSON 1-1 WAKELIN (49-1)

Wakelin lacks the weight to catch a red near the bottom left corner when snookered up to the top right of baulk. He fouls but makes the necessary adjustment on the second attempt and the safety face-off will now continue as a result.

ROBERTSON 1-1 WAKELIN (45-1)

Wakelin makes use of the rest to send that simple red over the bottom left corner down but then sees a similar issue develop for him when the pink stays on the edge of the opposite pocket.

Robertson steps in once more but can only add a red and that pink to his score. There are shades of Frame 1 here with some decent chances going begging.

ROBERTSON 1-1 WAKELIN (38-0)

Once again it’s Robertson who takes centre stage.

This time he builds his break with a flurry of blues and the pink, with the black awkwardly positioned near to the lower-middle section of the right cushion.

With most of the stray reds mopped up he lands top side of the blue to pot to the middle left and cannon into the pack.

It’s a beautifully weighted shot, but he’s unlucky with how the loose red landed very tight to the bottom cushion.

He tries to cut it, ever so finely, into the pocket but it refuses the invitation and the break halts at 38.

ROBERTSON 1-1 WAKELIN

Chris takes on a long red to the bottom right but is unlucky to see it clip both jaws and jump back out.

Robbo takes advantage with a simple enough red to the middle left pocket before developing his cue ball position with a pink to the middle right.

The reds are nicely spread and it provides him with a very strong platform to get in his potting groove.

The Aussie makes some intelligent use of the pink to the middle pockets throughout the break, particularly with the black so tight to the centre of the bottom cushion.

The half century passes with careful efficiency but the ton doesn’t follow as he misses a pink to the middle right to end on 92 with one red remaining.

ROBERTSON 0-1 WAKELIN

Wakelin attempts a brave long-range double on a red to the yellow pocket. It’s very close but doesn’t go down and Robertson is able to spy enough of the red to take charge.

The Aussie can’t finish the job from there though and at the umpteenth opportunity, Wakelin finally gets the job done in a very topsy-turvy opener.

ROBERTSON 0-0 WAKELIN (28-59)

Wakelin sits in his chair and looks like a man who has just started chewing a wasp.

He thinks he’s blown his chance to get off to a flyer but Robertson’s first nibble at the scoreboard ends when he fails to sink a make-able red to the middle right pocket.

This frame REMAINS up for grabs!

ROBERTSON 0-0 WAKELIN (0-59)

That’s sloppy from Neil. His safety is miles off what he was intending and leaves a red on the bottom cushion on for Wakelin to slip into the bottom right pocket.

Chris is well and truly on to finish the job at this visit but misses a simple black to the bottom left and the break ends far too prematurely from his point of view.

ROBERTSON 0-0 WAKELIN (0-44)

Wakelin is back in quickly and after clipping in an easier red to that same bottom right corner, he sets about building a significant lead.

He develops position with a strong pot on the brown and then moves through several reds by preying regularly upon the black. He nips back to the middle right to tickle down a pink to keep his positioning in sync.

He’s faced with a key shot with eight reds remaining but lacks the pace off a pot on the black to the bottom left to cannon into a trio of reds close to the left cushion.

He knows it’s the end of a break of 43 and sends the cue ball to baulk.

ROBERTSON 0-0 WAKELIN (0-1)

Still buzzing from that shoot-out title in Leicester – his first ranking trophy – Wakelin thunders a superb long red to the bottom right pocket. It’s the most he can muster but clear evidence of his confidence being high.

HERE WE GO!

Robertson to break in this best of nine Last-16 clash.

WHAT IS MOVING DAY?

It’s moving day at the German Masters – but what does that mean? Well, pretty much plenty of action for the players!

Neil Robertson will need to win two matches today to reach the semi-finals in Berlin, with shoot-out winner, Chris Wakelin his first obstacle coming up imminently. Should he survive that, Luca Brecel or Robert Milkins will await in the evening session.

Jack Lisowski, already through to the quarter-finals, will meet Xiao Guodong from 19:00 GMT.

GOOD AFTERNOON

Hello and welcome to our LIVE updates of the afternoon session at the 2023 German Open.

We’ll be focusing on the Last 16 showdown between Neil Robertson and Chris Wakelin.

Elsewhere, Luca Brecel meets Robert Milkins, Louis Heathcote takes on Ali Carter and Ricky Walden will face off with Pang Junxu.

Friday’s Schedule (GMT)

Last 16

13:00

• Neil Robertson v Chris Wakelin
• Luca Brecel v Robert Milkins
• Louis Heathcote v Ali Carter
• Ricky Walden v Pang Junxu

Quarter finals

19:00

• Tom Ford v Kyren Wilson
• Jack Lisowski v Xiao Guodong
• N Robertson / C Wakelin v Brecel / Milkins
• Heathcote / A Carter v Walden / Pang Junxu

‘Nice to be 100% for once!’ – Robertson fully recovered from illness

Robertson was clearly not well during his 6-4 defeat to Shaun Murphy at the Alexandra Palace and he also lost in a week later in the first round of the World Grand Prix to Xiao Guodong.

Having been ill at the UK Championship in November, as well as delaying the start of his season, Robertson is just 18th in the one-year ranking list but is the favourite to win this week’s German Masters with only four top 16 players in the draw.

“[It’s] nice to win and nice to be 100% fit for once this year,” said Robertson after he beat Joe Perry 5-3 on Thursday.

“Obviously the UK [Championship] was hard, the Masters and Grand Prix was really difficult.

“The first one at the UK was a really bad virus, similar to the flu but not quite as bad, but still almost impossible to play near 50% or 60%.

“Then the Masters, if it was any other event I would have pulled out, it was a mega struggle. I was really happy with my application, gave it a really good go and won a few frames, which I was really proud with myself about.”

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